Happiness. That elusive destination that constantly seems to escape out of our grasp.

One day, you’ll reach it. Surely, you will. You just need to try a little harder, go a little farther. You’ve just got to keep working.

Right?

Wrong.

Contrary to popular belief, happiness isn’t something you’ve got to march toward for ages on end. It’s something you can create right here, right now – but you’ve got to put in the effort.

Here goes…

Women who feel truly fulfilled and happy in life often display these 8 behaviors (and they don’t even realize it).

1) They wake up excited for the day ahead

What’s the first thought that pops into your head when you wake up in the morning?

Is it a defeated “ugh”?

Or is it an excited “yay”?

It sounds like a very simple question, yet it carries a lot of importance. While not even your dream job will make you feel enthusiastic every single day – let’s be real, that’s just impossible – a woman who feels truly fulfilled in life wakes up in a good mood more often than not.

And that’s because she has found a meaning in life or, as the Japanese call it, her “Ikigai”.

Your Ikigai is essentially the sweet spot between something that fulfills you on a deep level, something that the world needs, something that pays you enough money to feel financially comfortable, and something that you’re good at.

And once you find it…

Well, let’s just say it becomes much easier to feel happy in life. And waking up excited for the day ahead is one of the primary signs you are, indeed, doing something right.

2) They do more and think less

Have you ever noticed that people who overthink a lot tend to be less busy?

As the motivational speaker Brianna Wiest says in her book The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery, humans are quite antifragile, which means we grow stronger through challenge.

As a result, the human mind constantly looks for new challenges to overcome and new problems to solve. If you don’t receive enough external input, it becomes much easier to overthink yourself into a rabbit hole just so that you can find an issue to occupy yourself with.

See the problem?

Women who feel truly fulfilled in life often keep themselves busy – that is, they lead a rich social, professional, and emotional life.

That’s not to say they never catch a break, of course.

But their lives are quite balanced in all aspects, which means they don’t have as much time to puzzle over minor inconveniences or worry about situations that may not even happen.

3) They invest a lot of time into self-care

Speaking of catching a break, self-care is an extremely important part of every woman’s life – and the more she invests in herself, the happier she is likely to be.

It works the other way around as well – if a woman feels genuinely fulfilled, she is more motivated to look after herself and reinforce that cycle of good feelings.

The thing is, self-care isn’t just about taking a bubble bath with a face mask on.

It’s about prioritizing yourself and your peace. It’s about showing your body and mind the love and care you show others. It’s about putting yourself first when it matters.

Therefore, it probably comes as no surprise that self-care has been linked to improved mental health, self-esteem, optimism, and self-worth.

As psychologist Monica Vermani C. Psych. writes, “Self-care may seem like nothing more than the latest buzzword or passing trend, but in reality, it is a commitment to ourselves—a promise to factor ourselves into the equation of our lives.”

“When we optimize self-care, we feel better, look better, and have more energy,” she adds.

If a woman looks after herself – be it by taking a bubble bath, reading her favorite books in the evening, or taking the time to go for a night out with her friends – it’s a huge sign she’s generally quite happy in life.

4) They don’t bend over backward for others

While we’re on the topic of priorities, it’s also important to mention that happy and fulfilled women don’t spread themselves thin just to make sure everyone’s needs are looked after – all the while ignoring their own.

This is something far too women are guilty of. Personally, it’s taken me many years to learn how to set boundaries and cater to my own needs first, and I can honestly say that it’s been one of the best decisions of my life.

The truth is that you can’t be there for others if you feel depleted and resentful. The whole put-your-oxygen-mask-on-first rule is very much true.

The moment you stop bending over backward for others and actively choose to pour all that love back into your own cup is when you become a more fulfilled, present, and happier person.

Boundaries don’t serve to cut us off from other people. They help us navigate relationships in a way that works for everyone included.

You’ve just got to learn how to set and honor them.

5) They don’t settle for less than they deserve

This is a big one, so listen up.

The reason so many women out there end up feeling unhappy, drained, and burned out is that they settle for less than they deserve.

Why?

Because they operate from a scarcity mindset. Unable or unwilling to imagine a better life for themselves, they convince themselves this is the best they can get – and they better snatch it while they can.

Of course, the truth is that they could often do so much better, be it in the realm of romance or professional progress.

Alas, they make their peace with what they’ve been given – except they don’t feel peaceful at all, of course, because they’re burning with quiet resentment and frustration.

Women who feel genuinely happy in life do things a bit differently. Eager to expand their horizons and see how far they can go, they foster a mindset of abundance, not to mention their standards are pretty high.

In other words, they don’t settle. They know what they want – and they won’t stop until they get it.

6) They’re everyone’s biggest cheerleader

Do you know what the best part about genuine happiness is?

It’s contagious. When you’re happy with your life, you have no reason to feel envious of others or compare yourself to them because you’re so preoccupied with how amazing you have it.

And you want to spread that happiness as far as you can, be it by rooting for your friends, celebrating your partner’s successes with them, or giving your relatives career-related advice they can use to their advantage.

Whatever it is, you’re more than willing to help other people become the best versions of themselves because you believe there is enough happiness for everyone.

In short, you view happiness and success as unlimited resources. And you want to share.

7) They appreciate the beauty of the small things in life

A few days ago, I sat on a plane and looked outside the window as a gorgeous sunset was bathing the clouds in hues of pink and orange.

I’d flown a plane numerous times before, so this was nothing new to me. And yet I couldn’t help but stare with tears in my eyes, overcome by the beauty of planet Earth.

It may sound cliché, but over the years, I’ve found that the number one key to happiness truly is appreciation for the small things in life.

Be it a beautiful sunset, the chirping of birds, or the way your belly hurts from laughter as you’re out and about with your best friends, fulfillment and happiness are to be found everywhere.

You’ve just got to look.

Experts agree with me. Stephen Joseph Ph.D., a leading expert on positive psychology, writes: “Research has shown the power of gratitude and appreciation in promoting well-being, health, and positivity.”

He further recommends: “Find a way that works for you to remind yourself regularly not to get caught up in the day-to-day irritating but ultimately trivial things. Stay appreciative of the good and truly important things in your life. It will be worth the effort. And it might even help you sleep better.”

8) They believe that everything will eventually turn out okay

I consider myself quite a happy and resilient person.

Every time I go through a rough patch, I manage to pull through quite well – and a big part of this is my ability to maintain an optimistic outlook on life in spite of its challenges.

When something ends, I believe the universe is just opening up a new door for me. When everything seems to be falling apart, I believe my life is just shifting so that I can glow even brighter than ever before.

And you know what?

In my experience, this has proven to be true time and time again.

It does, indeed, turn out okay. You’ve just got to keep going.

And women who feel truly fulfilled and happy in life know this. It’s what makes them so very resilient and motivated to keep pursuing their goals.

It’s what gives them the courage and faith they need to keep going.

Hope.